Dispenser for strip material



Sept. 13, 1966 E. SCHEFER ET AL 3,272,414

DISPENSER FOR STRIP MATERIAL Filed Dec. 28, 1964 f F/G.2

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INVENTORS ELI JCHEFER AMI/V0114 Afllff/SHR Sept. 13, 1966 SCHEFER ET ALDISPENSER FOR STRIP MATERIAL Filed Dec. 28, 1964 United States Patent3,272,414 DISPENRER FOR STRIP MATERIAL Eli I. Schefer, Flainview, andAinanollah E. Rokhsar, Forest Hills, N.Y., assignors to Revlon, Inn, NewYork, N.Y.

Filed Dec. 28, I964, Ser. No. 421,323 '7 (Claims. ((Zl. 22545) Thisinvention relates to a storage and dispensing device for a roll of stripmaterial such, for example, as is used for bandages or medicament pads.

An object of the invention is to provide such a device in combinationwith such a roll of material as will facili tate removal of incrementsthereof from the roll in predetermined lengths or in lengths as desiredby the user.

A further object is to provide a dispenser wherein the stored materialis substantially isolated from the ambient atmosphere and to that extentprotected from contamination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device wherein the rollof material may be stored in dry condition or saturated, or immersed ina fluid, as desired.

A still further object of the invention has been to provide a dispenserand a roll of strip material carried thereby in such co-relation with asevering element that increments of the strip may be removed from theroll easily and without detrimentally aifecting the remainder of thestrip.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear from thefollowing description, our invention resides in the combination andarrangement of elements recited in the appended claims.

And, although the drawings show two preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be madewhich come within the scope and spirit of the claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of one embodimentof the invention;

FIGURE 2, an exploded vertical sectional view of said embodiment with aroll of the strip material, indicated in dot and dash lines, mountedtherein;

FIGURE 3, a horizontal sectional view on the plane of line 33 of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 4, an exploded perspective view of another form of our invention;

FIGURE 5, a vertical sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4;and

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane of line 66 ofFIGURE 5.

The device of this invention comprises, in general, a substantially air,gas and fluid tight container that has a removable top closure or capand a carrier for a roll of strip material normally attached to said capand housed within said container, when the cap is in closing position,said carrier being provided with a strip cutter so constructed andarranged that a desired length of the strip may be severed from thesupply roll Without disarraying or disturbing the remainder of the stripin the roll. In one form of the invention the cutting edge of the cutterincludes re-entrant portions which recede from advance portionsproviding points or tips for initially piercing the strip; and saidadvance portions are co-related in position with transverse slits in thestrip to facilitate removal of ice successive portions of predeterminedlengths of the strip along said slits.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 3, the container 10, that may be ofglass, plastic or other suitable material and conveniently of the formshown in FIGURE 1 includes a removable cover 14 attachable thereto byscrew threads or other suitable means.

The carrier A, FIGURE 2, for the roll of strip material 12 Which iswound on a cylindrical core 13, FIG- URE 3, comprises an upper end plate16, a lower end plate 18 and a spacer 2% which extends between these endplates with its ends rigidly attached thereto. In cross sectionalcontour, said spacer is in the form of an arc, FIGURE 3, and its curvedends follow generally, in con tour, the curved peripheral edges of theend plates. Thus, when the plates are circular the ends of the spacerwill, preferably, be arcuate in cross-section. These parts are, ingeneral, so shaped and dimensioned that they will readily fit within thecontainer 10 when cover 14 is in closing position thereon.

The assembly of the two plates and the spacer 20, comprising the carrierA, FIGURE 2, is attached to the cover 14 so that when the cover isremoved the carrier will also be removed from container 10 along withthe roll of strip material 12.

This mounting and removability are facilitated by providing a rollreceiving spindle 22 that is engaged in centrally arranged openings 24and 26 in the upper and lower plates 16 and 18, respectively. In anacceptable form the spindle 22 is tubular and provided with externalscrew threads 28 at its inner end and a flange 30 on its outer end, thescrew threads being adapted to engage in a threaded recess 32 in a boss33 at the under side of the cover 14. When the carrier is asssembled,the flange 30 is adapted to bear against outer face portions of theplate 18 at the peripheral edge of hole 26.

To facilitate tightening of spindle 22 in recess 32, flange 30 may beprovided with wrench receiving slots 33.

When the spindle is inserted axially through the plates and through core13 of roll I2, of strip material, and tightened in recess or socket 32the elements shown in FIGURE 2 will constitute a unitary structure suchas shown at the upper portion of FIGURE 1 and wherein the core 13 ofstrip roll 12 is free to rotate on spindle 22. As so assembled, thecarrier may be inserted in the container It and there stored forsubsequent removal and use with the strip material either in a dry orwet state.

The strip cutting edge of spacer 20 which is irregular in contourincludes cutting portions 34 and 36 which recede divergently from thesomewhat rounded spaced advance portions 44 toward the end portions 38.A thumb-receiving space 46 is left between these said spaced advanceportions 44; and the slides of the .re-entrant edge portions 42 and thecutting edges 34 and 36 meet to form said somewhat rounded advancestrip-piercing and severing portions or rounded tips 44.

In this form of the invention, the strip of material is advantageouslyprovided with groups of transversely aligned slits 46, 48 and 50 whichare of such lengths and the adjacent ends of which are so spacedtransversely in each group and so positioned that the severing tips 44will engage initially in said slits; and the lands 52 between adjacentends of the central and end slits will be severed by the edge portions34, 36 and 42 when a section of 3 the strip is being removed from theroll in a manner hereinafter described. The groups of slits 46, 48 and50 occur at longitudinally spaced locations in the strip, the distancebetween groups depending ordinarily upon the purpose for which thesevered portions are to be used.

When it is desired to sever a section of the strip from the supply, thecover 14, the roll carrier A and the roll 12 are removed from thecontainer as a unit. While the user holds this unit conveniently withthe thumb of one hand engaging the end at 30 and with another finger orother fingers pressed against the top surface of cover 14, he grips thefree end of the strip at 40 between the thumb and forefinger of hisother hand; and a section of the strip is withdrawn by pulling outwardlyon its free end and thus causing the core 13 and roll 12 to rotatefreely until the next slits or other desired group of slits issubstantially aligned with the severing tips 44. The withdrawn portionis bent back on itself (as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3) over saidtips 44 and then pulled in this reverse direction. The tips willinitially engage and penetrate the slits and, as the pulling force inreverse direction is continued, the lands between the intermediate andend slits will engage and be severed by the cutting edges 34, 36, 42 andthe section of strip to be removed will thus be cut from the rollwithout disturbing the remainder of the supply.

To replace a used-up roll of strip in the carrier A, spindle 22, isunscrewed from cap 14 and withdrawn from engagement with the carrierunit. A fresh roll of material is inserted between the end plates 16 and13 in such position that the tubular core 13 of the roll is aligned withholes 24 and 26. Spindle 22, is now inserted through said holes and saidcore; and is again secured to cap 14.

The structure disclosed in FIGURES 4 through 6 is somewhat differentfrom that disclosed in FIGURES 1 through 3 and advantageously employs adisposable carrier pie-assembled with a roll of strip material.

The embodiment disclosed in FIGURES 4 through 6 provides a container 54having a removable cover 56 which is adapted to substantially seal thecontainer against the entry of contaminating or detrimental elements.The strip carrier comprises an upper end plate 58 and a lower end plate60. A spindle 62 extends between these two plates and is rotatablymounted with its lower end 64 journaled in plate 60 and its upper end 66journaled in boss 76 of cover 56.

Extending between these two end plates are spacing and cutting members68 which are permanently secured at their ends to the upper and lowerplates by suitable means, such as screws, at 70. The spindle 62 isengaged in a tubular core 72 on which the roll of strip material 74 iswound. Thus the plates 58 and 60 and the spacing and cutting members 68form a unitary roll supporting structure; and when the roll 74 of stripmaterial is in position on the spindle 62 this material becomes ineffect part of the unitary structure.

So that in use this unitary structure may be removed from the containeralong with the cover 56, the latter is provided with the dependingexternally threaded boss 76 preferably integral therewith, whereby thecover 56 is attached to the upper plate 58 by suitable means, such asscrew threads.

When it is desired to remove an end portion or section of strip materialfrom the roll, the cover is unscrewed from the container 54 bringingwith it the unitary strip supporting structure above described, thusexposing the strip in condition to permit withdrawal of one end portionfrom the roll.

Thus, while said unit is held by the user in one hand, the end of thestrip is conveniently grasped between fingers of his other hand andpulled from the roll. This unrolled portion is folded back on itself andover one or the other of the spacing and cutting bars 68 by which, uponthe application of adequate force, the increment will be severed fromthe roll without dislodging or disarraying the remainder of the materialforming the roll.

In this form, as in the form shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, the containermay be filled with fluid to saturate the material of the roll, or thismaterial may be permitted to remain in a dry state, or in such asaturated or other state as is desired.

To replace a used-up roll of strip in the dispenser, cover 56 and thecarrier are removed from container 54. The carrier is separated fromcover 56 by unscrewing plate 58 from box 76 and may be replaced by acarrier pre-assembled with a roll of material. This arrangementsubstantially reduces the likelihood of contamination from excessivehandling of the rolled material.

What we claim is:

1. A dispenser comprising in combination, a container which includes adetachable cover, a carrier for a roll of strip material, said carrierbeing normally attached to the underside of said cover and locatedwithin said container and removable therefrom with said cover, and aroll of strip material mounted on said carrier to rotate freely inrelation thereto, said carrier comprising spaced end plates and meansextending between said plates formed with a strip cutting edge ofirregular contour having strip engaging and severing relatively advancedspaced tip por tions and cutting portions receding from the same with afinger accommodating space provided between said spaced tips whereby theuser may have access to outer end portions of the rolled strip to seizethe same material manually for withdrawal of a portion thereof from theroll.

2. The dispenser recited in claim 1, further including a spindel adaptedto .pass through the center of said carrier and fix the carrier to theunderside of said cover.

3. In combination, a container which includes a removable cover, acarrier for rolled strip material comprising spaced end plates and meansfor securing said plates together comprising a connecting memberextending between said plates and having a strip severing means thereon,and means for removably positioning the carrier to the underside of saidcover.

4. The combination recited in claim 3, wherein said strip severing meansincludes a strip cutting edge of irregular contour having strip engagingand severing relatively advanced spaced tip portions and cuttingportions receding from the same.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein finger accommodating spaceis provided between said spaced tips whereby the user may have access toouter end portions of the rolled strip to seize the same manually forwithdrawal of a portion thereof from the roll.

6. The combination recited in claim 4, wherein said strip material isprovided with longitudinally spaced groups of alined transverselyextending slits alternating with lands, the slits being positioned tocome opposite said tips and the lands to come opposite said cuttingportions when the strip is withdrawn a predetermined extent from itsroll.

7. A dispenser comprising in combination a hollow cylindrical containeropen at one end, a cover therefor including an end wall and a peripheralthreaded flange removably attachable to said container to securely closesaid open end thereof, said cover including a boss coaxial therewith andprojecting from the inner face of said end wall and having a coaxialrecess open at its inner end, a carrier arranged and adapted to supporta roll of strip material coaxially therewith and in rotatable relationthereto and including spaced opposed end plates rigidly secured inspaced relation to receive said roll between (them and strip severingmeans having severing edge portions arranged adjacent to the path ofmovement of portions of the strip when said portions are being withdrawnfrom the roll, said carrier being operatively connected to said boss andinsertable in and removable from said container along with attaching andremoval of said cover in relation to the container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Mersereau206-52 Fassmann 225-47 Everhart 225-47 Hoffman 206-52 Machate et a1225-45 10 Welch 225-47 6 10/1941 White 225-40 X 7/1947 Conti 206-526/1948 Sloan et a1 206-52 X 12/ 1957 Thompson 206-52 X FOREIGN PATENTS6/193 1 Great Britain.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

J. M. MEISTER, Assistant Examiner.

3. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER WHICH INCLUDES A REMOVABLE COVER, ACARRIER FOR ROLLED STRIP MATERIAL COMPRISING SPACED END PLATES AND MEANSFOR SECURING SAID PLATES TOGETHER COMPRISING A CONNECTING MEMBEREXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PLATES AND HAVING A STRIP SEVERING MEANS THEREON,AND MEANS FOR REMOVABLY POSITIONING THE CARRIER TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAIDCOVER.